As the UK bans disposables, consumer groups and tobacco harm reduction experts highlight the unintended consequences and call for pragmatic harm reduction over political posturing.
As the UK’s ban on disposable vapes looms closer, set to take effect on June 1st, a surge in stockpiling behavior has emerged among vapers—despite a notable drop in daily use. According to new data from Vape Superstore, over 70% of adult vapers plan to hoard disposable devices ahead of the ban, nearly tripling from six months ago. Curiously, this comes at a time when only 43.1% of users still rely on disposables as their main device, down from 66%.
This paradox highlights the growing tension between evolving consumer habits and mounting regulatory restrictions. While interest in longer-term, reusable vaping options has grown—rising from 45% to 53%—users remain hesitant to switch due to perceived complexity. Over 60% of respondents reported feeling intimidated by features like e-liquid refills and coil replacements. The transition to refillables, while environmentally beneficial and cost-effective, is not as straightforward as policymakers might assume.
“There’s a clear emotional dependency on disposables,” said David Phillips from Vape Superstore. “People are scrambling to stock up not because they use them every day, but because they’re unsure what comes next.”
Cracking down on the cure
The UK’s policy stance on vaping is increasingly at odds with harm reduction science. While smoking rates have decreased in recent years, new analysis reveals that official figures might be painting an overly optimistic picture. Research cited by Martine Cullip of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance shows that the government’s household surveys fail to count “hidden populations”—individuals in care homes, prisons, temporary housing, and people experiencing homelessness, where smoking rates often exceed 60%. Adjusting for these missing groups pushes the actual smoking prevalence from 12.9% closer to 15%, meaning over a million smokers were overlooked.
Given this reality, one might expect a renewed focus on supporting smoking cessation, especially among vulnerable communities. Instead, the government’s proposed Tobacco and Vapes Bill threatens to undermine these goals. The legislation includes bans on vape advertising, flavoured products, heated tobacco, and even vending machines in mental health settings—policies critics argue are more about optics than outcomes.
Far from empowering people to quit smoking, these measures risk driving them back to cigarettes or toward unregulated black-market alternatives. The very tools that have helped millions quit are being made less visible, less accessible, and less appealing.
Policy vs. progress
The vaping industry isn’t standing still. Brands like SKE, have already adapted, unveiling a new range of reusable and pod-based devices designed to maintain user satisfaction post-ban. Their new SKE BAR, a pre-filled pod system that mimics the flavour experience of the popular SKE Crystal Bar, aims to offer a smooth transition for users feeling left behind. Their updated brand identity also signals a long-term commitment to sustainability and innovation.
Yet even legitimate industry efforts are facing pressure. Retailers across the UK, many of whom operate under familiar household names, have warned that the upcoming legislation could jeopardize their businesses. Under Schedule One of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, licenses to sell vape products may be refused based on location, a move the UK Vaping Industry Association (UKVIA) argues could punish responsible sellers. The UKVIA supports licensing to ensure proper standards—but not at the cost of wiping out the convenience store sector that has played a vital role in harm reduction accessibility.
A call for balanced policy
Public health advocates are sounding the alarm. The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Smoking and Health recently released its Roadmap to a Smokefree Country, laying out key policy steps needed to eliminate smoking in a generation. Among them: reducing the number of smokers by 2 million during this Parliament, investing £97 million annually in stop-smoking support, and introducing a “polluter pays” levy on tobacco companies to raise £700 million a year.
Importantly, the roadmap does not suggest demonising safer alternatives. On the contrary, it recognises that regulated access to lower-risk nicotine products—like e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches—is critical for reducing smoking rates, particularly among those least likely to respond to traditional cessation methods.
Ban first, educate later?
The Vape Superstore survey revealed another important insight: the problem isn’t just about what’s banned, but what’s misunderstood. Despite growing awareness of environmental concerns, over half of vapers still discard disposables in regular trash bins, and two-thirds are unaware that recycling options even exist. However, nearly 78% said they would use a recycling scheme if one were readily available. Hence it seems like education and infrastructure are lacking, not willingness.
With demand for simple, satisfying nicotine alternatives still strong, and data showing fewer vapers are considering returning to smoking (down from 14% to 8.1%) or turning to the black market (from 6.9% to 3.8%), the foundation for a successful harm reduction strategy remains in place. What’s needed now is policy that supports it.
With proper support, vapers could maintain both satisfaction and convenience. Lacking it, however, many may turn to illicit sources or relapse into smoking. In its current form, the UK’s crackdown could become a self-defeating effort—sacrificing long-term health gains for short-term political wins. For harm reduction to succeed, the focus must shift from restriction to education, and from fear to facts.